Listener Favourite 2025 : A Faith That Is More than Believing, Part 2

Joel 2:28-32
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Today, Pastor Colin explores the powerful transformations seen in churches filled with the Holy Spirit, contrasting them with congregations marked by complaints and self-absorption. Through a lens on Joel 2:28-32, we learn about the outpouring of the Spirit, and how this can lead to lives filled with gratitude, praise, and an eagerness to serve. Pastor Colin challenges us to reflect on our own faith journeys and the role the Spirit plays in our lives. As we navigate this message, consider when was the last time you prayed for the fullness of God in your life, and why that might be an essential step today.

100:00:00,320 –> 00:00:08,040Imagine going into a church, the people as200:00:08,040 –> 00:00:09,680you just listen in on conversation that300:00:09,680 –> 00:00:12,420they are largely ungrateful,400:00:12,420 –> 00:00:14,640self-absorbed, a lot of complaining you just500:00:14,640 –> 00:00:18,080hear that a lot and you would say to600:00:18,080 –> 00:00:19,760yourself you know they profess to be700:00:19,760 –> 00:00:21,920Christian they say that they believe800:00:21,920 –> 00:00:26,559got a nice sign up over their church900:00:26,780 –> 00:00:29,980but their speech betrays them1000:00:29,980 –> 00:00:32,279Welcome to OpenTheBible with Pastor1100:00:32,279 –> 00:00:34,400Colin Smith. I’m David Pick glad you1200:00:34,400 –> 00:00:35,720could be with us today Colin1300:00:35,720 –> 00:00:37,639unfortunately I think most of us have at1400:00:37,639 –> 00:00:39,540one time or another been in a church a1500:00:39,540 –> 00:00:41,560bit like that and it seems as if the1600:00:41,560 –> 00:00:43,040people are always complaining. Well1700:00:43,040 –> 00:00:45,139there’s the roots of sinful nature in1800:00:45,139 –> 00:00:47,959all of us and I guess I know I complain1900:00:47,959 –> 00:00:49,480too much. I think we all do that2000:00:49,480 –> 00:00:51,139sometimes. That would be true I think2100:00:51,139 –> 00:00:53,299quite widely but you know what strikes2200:00:53,299 –> 00:00:55,660me here is that the Congregation2300:00:56,119 –> 00:00:57,860complaining if you say where’s that in2400:00:57,860 –> 00:00:59,860the Bible, it’s out in the desert with2500:00:59,860 –> 00:01:01,540Moses and all these people grumbling2600:01:01,540 –> 00:01:02,820they’re never satisfied with the leader2700:01:02,820 –> 00:01:04,940and all the rest of it. And that is a2800:01:04,940 –> 00:01:07,980manifestation of their flesh it is just2900:01:07,980 –> 00:01:11,699how we are in our fallen nature and the3000:01:11,699 –> 00:01:14,260big contrast is that when you come to3100:01:14,260 –> 00:01:15,580the day of Pentecost and the Holy3200:01:15,580 –> 00:01:18,019Spirit is poured out you have a small3300:01:18,019 –> 00:01:19,680congregation of hundred and twenty3400:01:19,680 –> 00:01:21,260believers they’re filled with the3500:01:21,260 –> 00:01:23,080Spirit. They’re not complaining they’re3600:01:23,080 –> 00:01:24,839praising God they’re full of3700:01:24,839 –> 00:01:27,120thanksgiving and they’re not focused on3800:01:27,120 –> 00:01:29,279themselves and their problems but they3900:01:29,279 –> 00:01:31,379really are filled with a sense of the4000:01:31,379 –> 00:01:33,879wonderful works of God. Now you look at4100:01:33,879 –> 00:01:35,660these two congregations there is no4200:01:35,660 –> 00:01:37,879doubt at all about which one I want to4300:01:37,879 –> 00:01:40,040be part of and which group of people I4400:01:40,040 –> 00:01:42,839want to become more like. And there’s4500:01:42,839 –> 00:01:44,720what the church is and and that’s4600:01:44,720 –> 00:01:47,080reality when the church is filled with4700:01:47,080 –> 00:01:50,059the Holy Spirit, what a wonderful sense4800:01:50,059 –> 00:01:51,879of thanksgiving and praise there is4900:01:51,879 –> 00:01:54,160that’s the mark of the reality of the5000:01:54,160 –> 00:01:56,080presence the Spirit. I want more of that5100:01:56,080 –> 00:01:58,480I want more of that for myself more of5200:01:58,480 –> 00:02:00,480that in the church. We see that today in5300:02:00,480 –> 00:02:04,260Joel chapter 2 verses 28 through to 325400:02:04,260 –> 00:02:06,760as we continue our message Faith That Is5500:02:06,760 –> 00:02:09,259More Than Believing here’s Collin. Notice5600:02:09,259 –> 00:02:11,479what God says will happen when the5700:02:11,479 –> 00:02:13,220spirit is poured out it gives us the5800:02:13,220 –> 00:02:16,360evidence of the presence of the spirit5900:02:16,360 –> 00:02:20,220in people’s lives three things number6000:02:20,220 –> 00:02:23,240one your sons and your daughters shall6100:02:23,360 –> 00:02:25,160prophesy that’s what will happen when6200:02:25,160 –> 00:02:27,779the Spirit is poured out on all flesh6300:02:27,779 –> 00:02:30,220now to prophecy here’s a simple6400:02:30,220 –> 00:02:35,419definition to prophesy is simply to be6500:02:35,419 –> 00:02:39,399prompted by God to speak the right word6600:02:39,399 –> 00:02:42,179at the right time in the right way to6700:02:42,179 –> 00:02:45,419be prompted by God to speak the right6800:02:45,419 –> 00:02:48,520word the right time in the right way6900:02:48,520 –> 00:02:51,779and not only that that’s the first7000:02:51,779 –> 00:02:54,380thing here’s the second your old men7100:02:54,380 –> 00:03:00,160shall dream dreams so here are hope7200:03:00,160 –> 00:03:06,059filled seniors marvellous older Saints7300:03:06,059 –> 00:03:08,179who are dreaming dreams what does that7400:03:08,179 –> 00:03:12,419mean? It means older Saints who are7500:03:12,419 –> 00:03:15,100filled with confidence with regards to7600:03:15,100 –> 00:03:18,179what God can do on Earth and filled with7700:03:18,179 –> 00:03:21,419growing anticipation of what God has7800:03:21,460 –> 00:03:24,699prepared in heaven and along with that7900:03:24,699 –> 00:03:27,020when the spirit is outpoured not only do8000:03:27,020 –> 00:03:29,899you have hope-filled seniors but young8100:03:29,899 –> 00:03:34,179men shall see visions so here we have8200:03:34,179 –> 00:03:37,539mission focused youngsters a new8300:03:37,539 –> 00:03:40,539generation rising up and again this is8400:03:40,539 –> 00:03:43,139God’s work of God’s spirit that young8500:03:43,139 –> 00:03:46,720people have a passion and a sense of8600:03:46,740 –> 00:03:51,919mission and vision they see visions8700:03:51,919 –> 00:03:53,279miracle of God’s Spirit because when8800:03:53,279 –> 00:03:54,880you’re young you’re absorbed with the8900:03:54,880 –> 00:03:59,119now life comes towards you when you are9000:03:59,119 –> 00:04:02,699young and all the new music and all the9100:04:02,699 –> 00:04:04,559new media and all the new gadgets you’re9200:04:04,559 –> 00:04:06,520the target audience for everything9300:04:06,520 –> 00:04:08,059that’s coming and it’s coming at an9400:04:08,059 –> 00:04:10,399extraordinary rate towards you and it’s9500:04:10,399 –> 00:04:13,300so easy to be completely consumed by it9600:04:13,300 –> 00:04:17,299all but here are some young people now9700:04:17,299 –> 00:04:18,980the Spirit has been poured out on them9800:04:18,980 –> 00:04:22,239and they see through all of this, they9900:04:22,239 –> 00:04:25,820see beyond the little screen and they10000:04:25,820 –> 00:04:28,179have a perception as if they had x-ray10100:04:28,179 –> 00:04:30,940eyes they see eternal things most young10200:04:30,940 –> 00:04:33,019people never think about eternal things10300:04:33,019 –> 00:04:35,320but here are young people who are able10400:04:35,320 –> 00:04:37,980to frame their lives early in the light10500:04:37,980 –> 00:04:40,320of eternity and for that reason they10600:04:40,320 –> 00:04:42,640have a passion to glorify God and to10700:04:42,640 –> 00:04:44,679make a difference in the world and10800:04:44,679 –> 00:04:47,440they’re seeing through the the shallowness10900:04:47,440 –> 00:04:49,899and the trivia of what’s consuming a11000:04:49,899 –> 00:04:53,799generation around them and you put11100:04:53,799 –> 00:04:55,660these two things together and there’s a11200:04:55,660 –> 00:05:01,959spirit filled church, older saints who11300:05:01,959 –> 00:05:05,380along with mission-focused younger11400:05:05,380 –> 00:05:07,940people with vision and enterprise, the11500:05:07,940 –> 00:05:10,019older saints are coming alongside11600:05:10,420 –> 00:05:12,940having great confidence in what God can11700:05:12,940 –> 00:05:14,820do on earth so they’re saying go for it11800:05:14,820 –> 00:05:16,239we’re praying for you and we’re with you11900:05:16,239 –> 00:05:17,859and they’re encouraging and they’re12000:05:17,859 –> 00:05:20,140helping young folks to look towards the12100:05:20,140 –> 00:05:27,299future. The spirit anticipated in the12200:05:27,299 –> 00:05:32,320prayer of Moses and the spirit promised12300:05:32,320 –> 00:05:38,100through the prophet Joel if Moses was12400:05:38,100 –> 00:05:39,859listening to these words of Joel he’s12500:05:39,859 –> 00:05:42,500said boy that would be so different12600:05:42,500 –> 00:05:44,299from everything I experienced with the12700:05:44,299 –> 00:05:47,700people of God in the desert. So different.12800:05:47,700 –> 00:05:51,540Now, let’s move forward to the book of12900:05:51,540 –> 00:05:58,140Acts. Book of Acts and chapter 2. And13000:05:58,140 –> 00:06:02,140here’s our third last stopping place the13100:06:02,140 –> 00:06:06,480Spirit of God gaven through the Lord13200:06:06,480 –> 00:06:08,019Jesus Christ13300:06:08,019 –> 00:06:11,399anticipated by Moses promised by Joel13400:06:11,399 –> 00:06:16,459but given through our Lord Jesus Christ.13500:06:16,459 –> 00:06:21,380And you know this story, most of13600:06:21,380 –> 00:06:24,519you, very well, the day of Pentecost. Verse13700:06:24,519 –> 00:06:29,7201. When the day of Pentecost arrived they13800:06:29,720 –> 00:06:34,320were all together in one place. Now who’s13900:06:34,320 –> 00:06:37,899they? Well the they is a reference back14000:06:37,920 –> 00:06:40,640to chapter 1 and verse 15 where we are14100:06:40,640 –> 00:06:43,220told about a company of a hundred and14200:06:43,220 –> 00:06:44,760twenty believers. Now that’s very14300:06:44,760 –> 00:06:47,660important for this reason. The company14400:06:47,660 –> 00:06:49,179that was gathered on the day of14500:06:49,179 –> 00:06:51,859Pentecost was not the Apostles only,14600:06:51,859 –> 00:06:54,339wasn’t the twelve, it was the whole14700:06:54,339 –> 00:06:56,579congregation. There only was one14800:06:56,579 –> 00:06:59,100congregation in those days and there14900:06:59,100 –> 00:07:00,420were a hundred and twenty of them but15000:07:00,420 –> 00:07:02,440all of the people of God, the15100:07:02,440 –> 00:07:05,100congregation was all gathered together15200:07:05,100 –> 00:07:07,660in one place on the day of Pentecost.15300:07:07,739 –> 00:07:10,559And suddenly verse 2, there came15400:07:10,559 –> 00:07:12,279from Heaven a sound like a mighty15500:07:12,279 –> 00:07:13,980rushing wind and it filled the entire15600:07:13,980 –> 00:07:15,940house where they were sitting and15700:07:15,940 –> 00:07:18,619divided tongues as of fire appeared to15800:07:18,619 –> 00:07:21,519them and rested on each one of them and15900:07:21,519 –> 00:07:23,220they were… Notice the word and help me…16000:07:23,220 –> 00:07:26,559they were all filled with the Holy16100:07:26,559 –> 00:07:28,779Spirit, that’s the key point here. And16200:07:28,779 –> 00:07:32,299began to speak in other tongues as the16300:07:32,299 –> 00:07:33,940Spirit gave them utterance. What does16400:07:33,940 –> 00:07:34,899that mean?16500:07:34,899 –> 00:07:36,880Well it means simply this, that God gave16600:07:37,000 –> 00:07:39,500to these believers an ability, a16700:07:39,500 –> 00:07:41,559spontaneous ability, to speak in16800:07:41,559 –> 00:07:43,079language as they had never learned. They16900:07:43,079 –> 00:07:45,040were not educated people, they’d never17000:07:45,040 –> 00:07:47,100been to other countries, and they did not17100:07:47,100 –> 00:07:50,600have Rosetta Stone. But suddenly and17200:07:50,600 –> 00:07:52,100spontaneously they’re speaking in17300:07:52,100 –> 00:07:53,160language… it must’ve been such a17400:07:53,160 –> 00:07:54,859surprise to them. I speak a language I17500:07:54,859 –> 00:07:57,760never learned. And God enabled them to do17600:07:57,760 –> 00:07:59,619that for this particular purpose, the17700:07:59,619 –> 00:08:01,920significance is in verse 5, there was a17800:08:01,920 –> 00:08:04,500large crowd of people from every nation,17900:08:04,500 –> 00:08:06,079they’re all speaking different18000:08:06,119 –> 00:08:09,480languages. And this multicultural crowd18100:08:09,480 –> 00:08:13,279gathers together and they hear the 12018200:08:13,279 –> 00:08:13,959believers they’re all18300:08:13,959 –> 00:08:15,540speaking different languages. Can you18400:08:15,540 –> 00:08:17,239imagine what happens? A hundred and18500:08:17,239 –> 00:08:18,559twenty people all speaking different18600:08:18,559 –> 00:08:20,079languages at the same time. It must have18700:08:20,079 –> 00:08:24,480sounded very confusing. And then, your18800:08:24,480 –> 00:08:26,880listen and you say, hey, that guy over18900:08:26,880 –> 00:08:28,720there speaking English! So what do you do?19000:08:28,720 –> 00:08:30,679You go over and you stand beside the guy19100:08:30,679 –> 00:08:33,719who’s speaking English, if you speak19200:08:33,820 –> 00:08:36,659Japanese. Some folks are listening right19300:08:36,659 –> 00:08:39,059now to translation, as I’m speaking in19400:08:39,059 –> 00:08:42,400Japanese, and if you were there on the19500:08:42,400 –> 00:08:45,359day of Pentecost, you go to the person19600:08:45,359 –> 00:08:46,320who’s speaking your language19700:08:46,320 –> 00:08:47,619and you’re able to communicate. And so19800:08:47,619 –> 00:08:49,659very quickly what happens is that every19900:08:49,659 –> 00:08:51,900believer has a little cluster of people20000:08:51,900 –> 00:08:55,700around him or her, and the little cluster20100:08:55,700 –> 00:08:58,440of people are listening to these20200:08:58,440 –> 00:09:00,359believers declaring the wonderful works20300:09:00,359 –> 00:09:03,599of God. By the way, that’s a beautiful20400:09:03,599 –> 00:09:07,320picture, because God will place people20500:09:07,320 –> 00:09:09,599around you with whom you can communicate20600:09:09,599 –> 00:09:14,020this week. And they’re placed around you,20700:09:14,020 –> 00:09:16,479not around me, not around the person next20800:09:16,479 –> 00:09:21,719to you, just around you. And some of you20900:09:21,719 –> 00:09:24,419can speak languages that I cannot speak,21000:09:24,419 –> 00:09:31,900like hip. I don’t do that. Or cool. I don’t21100:09:31,960 –> 00:09:34,940do that. But the point is that God has21200:09:34,940 –> 00:09:37,500gifted us, even within the English21300:09:37,500 –> 00:09:39,239language, let alone the other languages21400:09:39,239 –> 00:09:43,099that are spoken. We are given the ability21500:09:43,099 –> 00:09:45,940by God to be able to communicate with21600:09:45,940 –> 00:09:48,080all different kinds of people. People21700:09:48,080 –> 00:09:51,320you can touch that I, in my entire life,21800:09:51,320 –> 00:09:52,719would never be able to reach but21900:09:52,719 –> 00:09:54,400they’ve been placed around you, so that22000:09:54,400 –> 00:09:56,799you can take what you’re learning of the22100:09:56,799 –> 00:09:59,859wonderful works of God and declare22200:10:00,099 –> 00:10:03,340that to them, beautiful. This is the22300:10:03,340 –> 00:10:06,640church filled with the Holy Spirit and22400:10:06,640 –> 00:10:10,580it is a marvelous, marvelous thing and22500:10:10,580 –> 00:10:14,020Peter gets up and he explains to the22600:10:14,020 –> 00:10:16,520crowd what is happening and he says this22700:10:16,520 –> 00:10:21,659verse 16. Notice it, this is what was22800:10:21,659 –> 00:10:24,099uttered through the Prophet, say it with22900:10:24,099 –> 00:10:29,440me, Joël, that the last days has23000:10:29,440 –> 00:10:31,020God declares. Jaime will pour out my23100:10:31,020 –> 00:10:34,020spirit on, say with me all, flesh and23200:10:34,020 –> 00:10:35,780your sons and your daughters shall23300:10:35,780 –> 00:10:37,559prophesy and your young men shall see23400:10:37,559 –> 00:10:39,059visions and your old men shall dream23500:10:39,059 –> 00:10:41,799dreams, so here are 120 and they’re all23600:10:41,799 –> 00:10:46,799ministering. It’s wonderful. And think how23700:10:46,799 –> 00:10:49,400different this was from the people that23800:10:49,400 –> 00:10:54,039crowded in the time of Moses, the crowd23900:10:54,039 –> 00:10:56,880in the time of Moses, oh yes we believe,24000:10:57,059 –> 00:11:00,539oh yes, oh yes we bear the name of the24100:11:00,539 –> 00:11:02,520Lord, but they’re complaining and they’re24200:11:02,520 –> 00:11:04,320self-absorbed and they’re really24300:11:04,320 –> 00:11:06,599ungrateful for all of the mercies of God24400:11:06,599 –> 00:11:11,039that come to them daily, now here are24500:11:11,039 –> 00:11:14,679this congregation in the city of24600:11:14,679 –> 00:11:16,659Jerusalem and they’re filled with the24700:11:16,659 –> 00:11:19,099Spirit and they’re very different, they24800:11:19,099 –> 00:11:21,299are declaring the works of God, they’re24900:11:21,299 –> 00:11:23,559filled with praise and thanksgiving and25000:11:23,559 –> 00:11:25,599gratitude and people around them are25100:11:25,599 –> 00:11:28,260seeing this and it calls for an25200:11:28,260 –> 00:11:32,320explanation and Peter is able then to25300:11:32,320 –> 00:11:33,919get up and to speak to them about25400:11:33,919 –> 00:11:36,979Christ. I wonder if God allowed Moses to25500:11:36,979 –> 00:11:39,359look down on this scene and I wonder if25600:11:39,359 –> 00:11:41,419Moses was saying well if only it could25700:11:41,419 –> 00:11:43,119have happened in the desert.25800:11:43,119 –> 00:11:46,239this is wonderful it is remarkable.25900:11:46,239 –> 00:11:47,979you’re listening to open the Bible with26000:11:47,979 –> 00:11:49,840Pastor Colin Smith and a message called26100:11:49,840 –> 00:11:52,179faith that is more than believing.26200:11:52,179 –> 00:11:54,539it’s part of our current series, Listener26300:11:54,539 –> 00:11:57,179favorite, taking the 10 most requested26400:11:57,179 –> 00:11:59,919and popular broadcasts of the last year26500:11:59,919 –> 00:12:01,400and if you have a miss one of our26600:12:01,400 –> 00:12:03,619messages you can always catch up and go26700:12:03,619 –> 00:12:05,359back and listen again online at our26800:12:05,359 –> 00:12:06,400website26900:12:06,400 –> 00:12:09,619open-the-bible.org.uk back to the27000:12:09,619 –> 00:12:10,700message now27100:12:10,700 –> 00:12:12,780we’re in Joel chapter 2, here’s Colin.27200:12:12,780 –> 00:12:18,419Imagine going into a church in which you27300:12:18,419 –> 00:12:21,179find whatever the service is like that27400:12:21,179 –> 00:12:22,659the people that you just listen in on27500:12:22,659 –> 00:12:24,140conversation that they are largely27600:12:24,179 –> 00:12:27,739ungrateful, self absorbed, a lot of27700:12:27,739 –> 00:12:31,940complaining, you just hear that a lot and27800:12:31,940 –> 00:12:33,260you would say to yourself you know they27900:12:33,260 –> 00:12:36,380profess to be Christian they say that28000:12:36,380 –> 00:12:40,580they believe, got a nice sign up over28100:12:40,580 –> 00:12:44,500their church but their speech betrays28200:12:44,500 –> 00:12:48,820them. Their speech betrays them, and28300:12:48,820 –> 00:12:51,119imagine the next Sunday you go into a28400:12:51,119 –> 00:12:53,260church and just as you’re listening28500:12:53,640 –> 00:12:55,200around what you’re really hearing from28600:12:55,200 –> 00:12:57,580people is a great sense of gratitude and28700:12:57,580 –> 00:13:02,020a great sense of praise to God, would you28800:13:02,020 –> 00:13:04,200not say comparing the two experiences28900:13:04,200 –> 00:13:06,039no this church is where the real29000:13:06,039 –> 00:13:10,739Christians are of the second one because29100:13:10,739 –> 00:13:13,440there is the evidence of the spirit of29200:13:13,440 –> 00:13:18,559Jesus in these people so here’s the29300:13:18,559 –> 00:13:20,520obvious question that comes out of all29400:13:20,520 –> 00:13:23,200of this for us and it’s a question that29500:13:23,200 –> 00:13:25,219all of us speaker and here is alike do29600:13:25,219 –> 00:13:27,619need to frame for ourselves to which29700:13:27,619 –> 00:13:32,739group do you belong and as I have to put29800:13:32,739 –> 00:13:34,500my life under the scope of God’s Word29900:13:34,500 –> 00:13:37,520before I ever tried to speak from it I30000:13:37,520 –> 00:13:40,380ask the question and I see too much30100:13:40,380 –> 00:13:44,059complaining still in my own life and too30200:13:44,059 –> 00:13:46,979little gratitude which leads me to say30300:13:46,979 –> 00:13:49,359as a Christian who has the Spirit every30400:13:49,359 –> 00:13:51,940Christian is given the Spirit of God but30500:13:52,000 –> 00:13:53,900I look at these things and it makes me30600:13:53,900 –> 00:13:58,520say oh God I need more of your spirit30700:13:58,520 –> 00:14:02,739and how can that happen30800:14:02,739 –> 00:14:04,559well how did it happen on the day of30900:14:04,559 –> 00:14:08,000Pentecost what caused it what led to the31000:14:08,000 –> 00:14:09,460outpouring of the spirit well Peter31100:14:09,460 –> 00:14:11,960makes it perfectly clear here first 2231200:14:11,960 –> 00:14:14,900men of Israel hear these words Jesus of31300:14:14,900 –> 00:14:18,200Nazareth he goes to Jesus Jesus is the31400:14:18,200 –> 00:14:19,619explanation of everything that’s31500:14:19,619 –> 00:14:21,559happening here because Jesus is the one31600:14:21,559 –> 00:14:23,900who pours out the spirit and this Jesus31700:14:23,900 –> 00:14:25,559he was attested to you by signs and31800:14:25,559 –> 00:14:27,700wonders verse 22 he is delivered up31900:14:27,700 –> 00:14:29,559according to the definite plan of God32000:14:29,559 –> 00:14:33,280verse 23 you crucified him verse 24 God32100:14:33,280 –> 00:14:35,960raised him up and then jumping to verse32200:14:35,960 –> 00:14:38,76033 God raised him up and being32300:14:38,760 –> 00:14:41,280therefore exalted at the right hand of32400:14:41,280 –> 00:14:44,640God and having received from the Father32500:14:44,640 –> 00:14:48,760the promise of the Holy Spirit he Jesus32600:14:49,260 –> 00:14:54,719has poured out this that you yourselves32700:14:54,719 –> 00:14:57,479are seeing and hearing it’s all because32800:14:57,479 –> 00:15:01,119of Jesus that’s what he says now in the32900:15:01,119 –> 00:15:03,280Bible the Bible speaks about the Spirit33000:15:03,280 –> 00:15:05,299being sent by the Father and of the33100:15:05,299 –> 00:15:07,580Spirit being sent by the son the Bible33200:15:07,580 –> 00:15:09,020speaks about the Holy Spirit as the33300:15:09,020 –> 00:15:11,080Spirit of the Father as well as the33400:15:11,080 –> 00:15:13,780Spirit of the Son here’s what matters33500:15:13,780 –> 00:15:17,400the outpouring of the Spirit from the33600:15:17,400 –> 00:15:20,000Father and through the son happens33700:15:20,000 –> 00:15:23,640because of the finished work of Jesus33800:15:23,640 –> 00:15:25,280Christ through his death through his33900:15:25,280 –> 00:15:26,919resurrection through his ascension he is34000:15:26,919 –> 00:15:28,859now at the right hand of the Father and34100:15:28,859 –> 00:15:32,320therefore he pours out the light of his34200:15:32,320 –> 00:15:35,400finished work on his people the Holy34300:15:35,400 –> 00:15:37,440Spirit and the Spirit is poured out on34400:15:37,440 –> 00:15:40,679who those who look to him in faith and34500:15:40,679 –> 00:15:44,359are walking with him in obedience these34600:15:45,099 –> 00:15:47,979people. So you follow through the story34700:15:47,979 –> 00:15:50,000it gives you the answer to the question34800:15:50,000 –> 00:15:52,039how can I know more of the Holy Spirit34900:15:52,039 –> 00:15:54,859in my life and the answer is simply this35000:15:54,859 –> 00:15:57,239you give more of yourself to God and you35100:15:57,239 –> 00:16:00,280ask God to give more of himself to you35200:16:00,280 –> 00:16:02,679you give more of yourself to God because35300:16:02,679 –> 00:16:06,640God cannot fill what he does not have35400:16:06,640 –> 00:16:09,900you place yourself into his hands so35500:16:09,900 –> 00:16:12,719that he may fill you and you’re going35600:16:13,280 –> 00:16:14,039and as you go into another week and as35700:16:14,039 –> 00:16:16,859you go into another day you live with a35800:16:16,859 –> 00:16:19,200sense of your own need of the empowering35900:16:19,200 –> 00:16:22,080and the equipping and the strengthening36000:16:22,080 –> 00:16:25,700and the prompting of the Holy Spirit36100:16:25,700 –> 00:16:28,960to be able to live as one of the hundred36200:16:28,960 –> 00:16:32,179and twenty lived and not like the folks36300:16:32,179 –> 00:16:36,179in the desert.36400:16:36,179 –> 00:16:38,440In the light of God’s mercy present36500:16:38,440 –> 00:16:40,719your bodies as living sacrifices says36600:16:40,719 –> 00:16:42,419the apostle that’s what I have to do36700:16:42,440 –> 00:16:44,780and I seek to do it as I move through36800:16:44,780 –> 00:16:46,900life on a continuing and on a deepening36900:16:46,900 –> 00:16:49,140basis Lord hear him I take me use me37000:16:49,140 –> 00:16:51,880fill me.37100:16:51,880 –> 00:16:54,260God gives his Spirit Peter says in Acts37200:16:54,260 –> 00:16:56,919532 to those who obey him.37300:16:56,919 –> 00:16:58,500So you walk37400:16:58,500 –> 00:17:00,659in obedience to Christ that’s what it37500:17:00,659 –> 00:17:03,559means to live a Christian life37600:17:03,559 –> 00:17:05,239and then as you’re giving yourself to37700:17:05,239 –> 00:17:07,300him37800:17:07,300 –> 00:17:09,339you’re asking him to give more of37900:17:09,339 –> 00:17:11,420himself to38000:17:11,420 –> 00:17:14,540you38100:17:14,540 –> 00:17:16,420the way to seek more of the Spirit is38200:17:16,420 –> 00:17:18,739to come to the one38300:17:18,739 –> 00:17:20,459who’s completed work on the cross and38400:17:20,459 –> 00:17:22,359triumphant resurrection from the dead38500:17:22,359 –> 00:17:24,619led to the pouring out of the spirit at38600:17:24,619 –> 00:17:26,560Pentecost Christ is the one who has the38700:17:26,560 –> 00:17:27,819spirit without measure38800:17:27,819 –> 00:17:30,319and Christ is the one who imparts the38900:17:30,319 –> 00:17:32,780Spirit into the lives of39000:17:32,780 –> 00:17:37,119his people39100:17:37,119 –> 00:17:39,160one story and then we’re through39200:17:39,319 –> 00:17:45,400earlier in in my ministry I began to39300:17:45,400 –> 00:17:50,500feel our profound need for more of God’s39400:17:50,500 –> 00:17:55,560spirit and I still do and I hope that I39500:17:55,560 –> 00:18:01,400always will I feel the weight of Christ’s39600:18:01,400 –> 00:18:03,459words without me39700:18:03,579 –> 00:18:10,660can do nothing nothing how hopeless is39800:18:10,660 –> 00:18:12,500all the work of preaching and pastoring39900:18:12,500 –> 00:18:15,140and leading unless God should breathe40000:18:15,140 –> 00:18:21,339upon it and give it life by his spirit I40100:18:21,339 –> 00:18:23,619had some preaching heroes in these early40200:18:23,619 –> 00:18:27,780days and I still do now there was one40300:18:27,780 –> 00:18:29,699man in particular whose preaching had40400:18:30,219 –> 00:18:32,939been a great blessing to me there was40500:18:32,939 –> 00:18:36,520the way that he spoke of Christ and the40600:18:36,520 –> 00:18:39,479incisiveness with which is speaking came40700:18:39,479 –> 00:18:43,859to my heart I I wanted something more of40800:18:43,859 –> 00:18:46,459what he had and sensed what I think I40900:18:46,459 –> 00:18:48,339could only describe as an anointing41000:18:48,339 –> 00:18:52,140upon his ministry one day I was at a41100:18:52,140 –> 00:18:54,339conference in which he was one of the41200:18:54,339 –> 00:18:55,859speakers there were just about a hundred41300:18:55,859 –> 00:18:57,979of us there it wasn’t a large group and41400:18:58,140 –> 00:19:00,060we were there for three days and so41500:19:00,060 –> 00:19:01,739there was good opportunity to interact41600:19:01,739 –> 00:19:04,619with those who minister to us and I41700:19:04,619 –> 00:19:06,739decided that I would ask this man to41800:19:06,739 –> 00:19:10,380pray for me I think I felt that if he41900:19:10,380 –> 00:19:13,400prayed for me something of what I42000:19:13,400 –> 00:19:17,439admired in him might rub off on me in42100:19:17,439 –> 00:19:19,319some way you’ve perhaps felt that with42200:19:19,319 –> 00:19:23,420someone that you admire yourself and we42300:19:23,420 –> 00:19:25,300sat down during a coffee break during42400:19:25,300 –> 00:19:29,739this conference and I told him about the42500:19:29,739 –> 00:19:36,199hunger in my soul I said I want more of42600:19:36,199 –> 00:19:43,339God’s spirit will you pray for me and he42700:19:43,339 –> 00:19:49,380paused and he said you know where he42800:19:49,540 –> 00:19:56,739comes from and that was it you know42900:19:56,739 –> 00:20:02,420where he comes from and it is to this43000:20:02,420 –> 00:20:05,219day the only time I have ever asked43100:20:05,219 –> 00:20:07,900someone to pray for me and been refused43200:20:07,900 –> 00:20:13,660and he was absolutely right to do what43300:20:13,660 –> 00:20:15,260he did but I’ve always been so thankful43400:20:15,540 –> 00:20:20,900for it been life-shaping he discerned and43500:20:20,900 –> 00:20:22,160i have no doubt that God gave him43600:20:22,160 –> 00:20:24,099discernment that I was looking to this43700:20:24,099 –> 00:20:26,439pastor as if he was the giver of the43800:20:26,439 –> 00:20:29,739Spirit rather than Christ and he gave me43900:20:29,739 –> 00:20:32,400the best advice that anyone could ever44000:20:32,400 –> 00:20:35,760get go to Christ do you know where he44100:20:35,760 –> 00:20:37,060comes from44200:20:37,060 –> 00:20:38,739he said it was such warmth and affection44300:20:39,599 –> 00:20:45,079you know where he comes from. go to Christ44400:20:46,260 –> 00:20:49,319and that is what I have tried to do and44500:20:49,319 –> 00:20:52,540what i am still doing and what I will44600:20:52,540 –> 00:20:55,579continue to do until the day when faith44700:20:55,579 –> 00:20:58,140is turned to sight and what the apostle44800:20:58,140 –> 00:21:00,160Paul prays for believers will be true of44900:21:00,160 –> 00:21:02,079me as in the presence of Jesus it will45000:21:02,079 –> 00:21:05,800be true of you to be filled with all the45100:21:05,800 –> 00:21:08,380fullness of God and until that day i’m45200:21:08,380 –> 00:21:09,959going to keep coming to Christ and45300:21:09,959 –> 00:21:12,520saying I want more I need more I need to45400:21:12,520 –> 00:21:14,719be refreshed i need for today45500:21:14,719 –> 00:21:20,319Oh fill me with thy fullness Lord what45600:21:20,319 –> 00:21:23,680about you the New Testament commands us45700:21:23,680 –> 00:21:25,719as Christians be filled with the Holy45800:21:25,719 –> 00:21:28,060Spirit when there’s the last time that45900:21:28,060 –> 00:21:30,599you came to God to express your desire46000:21:30,599 –> 00:21:33,300and what do you see of yourself in46100:21:33,300 –> 00:21:35,459today are you as you look at your own46200:21:35,459 –> 00:21:39,619life honestly full of thanksgiving or46300:21:39,619 –> 00:21:41,619would you say that there was in your46400:21:41,619 –> 00:21:45,099life just too much complaining and in46500:21:45,099 –> 00:21:50,619gratitude and me me me46600:21:50,619 –> 00:21:56,900oh fill me with your fullness Lord until46700:21:56,900 –> 00:22:00,400my very heart46800:22:00,400 –> 00:22:02,979overflow46900:22:03,060 –> 00:22:05,300Well I guess we’re both encouraged and47000:22:05,300 –> 00:22:07,280challenged by that message from pastor47100:22:07,280 –> 00:22:09,000collinsmith on open the Bible47200:22:09,000 –> 00:22:11,400when was the last time that we prayed to47300:22:11,400 –> 00:22:13,459be filled with all the fullness of God47400:22:13,459 –> 00:22:15,979and if we’re not praying like that why47500:22:15,979 –> 00:22:19,219not today. The message was entitled a47600:22:19,219 –> 00:22:21,400faith that is more than believing and47700:22:21,400 –> 00:22:23,439it’s part of our series called listener47800:22:23,439 –> 00:22:26,060favorites taking the 10 most requested47900:22:26,060 –> 00:22:28,400and popular messages from the past year48000:22:28,400 –> 00:22:30,719if you’ve missed any of the series don’t48100:22:30,719 –> 00:22:32,260forget you can always catch up or go48200:22:32,260 –> 00:22:34,420back and listen again online at our48300:22:34,420 –> 00:22:35,260website48400:22:35,260 –> 00:22:39,560openthebible.org.uk or on all the main48500:22:39,560 –> 00:22:41,739podcast sites and you can find those by48600:22:41,739 –> 00:22:44,699searching for open the Bible UK48700:22:44,699 –> 00:22:46,939also on our website and available as a48800:22:46,939 –> 00:22:49,939podcast is our daily reflections program48900:22:49,939 –> 00:22:52,020that two to three minutes long49000:22:52,020 –> 00:22:54,079based on Pastor Collin’s teaching and49100:22:54,079 –> 00:22:56,560read in the UK by Sue McLeish we call49200:22:56,560 –> 00:22:59,380it open the Bible daily open the Bible49300:22:59,380 –> 00:23:01,900aims to give individuals small groups49400:23:01,939 –> 00:23:04,459and churches excellent Bible study49500:23:04,459 –> 00:23:06,979courses one of these is fly through the49600:23:06,979 –> 00:23:09,000Bible I’m with open the Bible’s49700:23:09,000 –> 00:23:11,939executive director John Martin John how49800:23:11,939 –> 00:23:13,780does fly through the Bible help with49900:23:13,780 –> 00:23:16,140Bible study fly through the Bible is50000:23:16,140 –> 00:23:19,280collen’s whistle stop tour of the Bible50100:23:19,280 –> 00:23:21,540you meet five characters from the old50200:23:21,540 –> 00:23:24,099testament then we look at five events in50300:23:24,099 –> 00:23:25,839the life of Jesus and then we finished50400:23:25,839 –> 00:23:28,079with five gifts that God gives to the50500:23:28,079 –> 00:23:30,739church the book is short and simple and50600:23:30,839 –> 00:23:32,479therefore shareable it’s something you50700:23:32,479 –> 00:23:34,079might want to give away to somebody as a50800:23:34,079 –> 00:23:35,359gift50900:23:35,359 –> 00:23:37,060possibly a neighbor the the level at51000:23:37,060 –> 00:23:39,699which the book is appealing to is those51100:23:39,699 –> 00:23:41,819who have perhaps more exploring faith51200:23:41,819 –> 00:23:43,900perhaps they’re knew as a Christian51300:23:43,900 –> 00:23:46,219perhaps they want to see how it all fits51400:23:46,219 –> 00:23:48,280together they know bits and pieces but51500:23:48,280 –> 00:23:50,079they wonder where all the characters51600:23:50,079 –> 00:23:52,180and events fit together and this is51700:23:52,180 –> 00:23:54,540collen’s introduction to that you can51800:23:54,540 –> 00:23:56,579find details of flies with a Bible on51900:23:56,579 –> 00:23:59,119our website openthebible.org.uk52000:23:59,119 –> 00:24:02,560open the Bible is supported52100:24:02,560 –> 00:24:04,359by our listeners and if you already give52200:24:04,359 –> 00:24:06,439to support the work we want to thank you52300:24:06,439 –> 00:24:08,900so much if you’re considering doing that52400:24:08,900 –> 00:24:11,020in the future this month if you’re able52500:24:11,020 –> 00:24:13,500to set up a new direct debit to the work52600:24:13,500 –> 00:24:15,579of open the Bible in the amount of five52700:24:15,579 –> 00:24:17,939pounds per month or more or one-off gift52800:24:17,939 –> 00:24:20,280of fifty pounds or more we’d love to52900:24:20,280 –> 00:24:22,339thank you by sending you a copy of53000:24:22,339 –> 00:24:24,439pastor Collins book fly through the53100:24:24,500 –> 00:24:27,020Bible the book is a high-level view of53200:24:27,020 –> 00:24:29,319the whole of the Bible and it’s great53300:24:29,319 –> 00:24:32,079for Bible study for individuals and one53400:24:32,079 –> 00:24:34,420to one with an interested friend or a53500:24:34,420 –> 00:24:37,339small Bible study group full details of53600:24:37,339 –> 00:24:39,280fly through the Bible are on our website53700:24:39,280 –> 00:24:43,680openthebible.org.uk select the menu53800:24:43,680 –> 00:24:46,160item resources and follow the link to53900:24:46,160 –> 00:24:48,439fly through the Bible you’ll find54000:24:48,439 –> 00:24:50,479information about the videos and the54100:24:50,479 –> 00:24:52,859Bible study materials for groups and54200:24:53,339 –> 00:24:55,619individuals our website address again54300:24:55,619 –> 00:25:00,579openthebible.org.uk for open the bible54400:25:00,579 –> 00:25:03,060and Pastor Colin Smith I’m David pick54500:25:03,060 –> 00:25:04,839and I hope you’ll join us again next54600:25:04,839 –> 00:25:09,699time54700:25:09,699 –> 00:25:13,540have we given much thought to the legacy54800:25:13,540 –> 00:25:16,680will leave behind discover how one man’s54900:25:16,680 –> 00:25:19,060legacy was turned upside down in an55000:25:19,060 –> 00:25:19,939instant55100:25:19,939 –> 00:25:21,859that’s open the Bible with Pastor Colin

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Sermons on Joel “I will restore the years that the locust has eaten.” That’s a promise written in the book of Joel. In these sermons on Joel, we’ll learn that God can restore lost years. We will hear the truths on how God does this—by deepening our communion with Christ, by multiplying our fruitfulness, and

Colin Smith

New! Graphic Novel

A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

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